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Is RFA Effective for Treating Severe Neck Pain?

Suffering from severe, chronic neck pain? Lingering pain negatively affects your everyday life, making it difficult for anyone to enjoy the things they once loved. Luckily, there are solutions to alleviate neck pain, without requiring the use of pain medication. RFA, or radiofrequency ablation, is a targeted technique that can treat several conditions, including chronic back or neck pain. Here’s what you need to know about this simple procedure.

What Is Radiofrequency Ablation?

RFA is a highly effective, trusted treatment for pain relief, including severe neck pain. During an RFA procedure, a medical professional uses a heated needle tip to disrupt nerve conduction, preventing the transmission of pain signals while reducing discomfort in the target area.

Why is RFA so effective? The procedure enables medical professionals to precisely pinpoint the area of pain. It’s also an extremely safe, simple therapy with few complications. Since doctors can stimulate specific areas before the ablation procedure, only the offending nerves are targeted. As the doctor places the needle to heat up the nerve tissue, it damages the nerve’s pain signals, so the brain no longer receives them. In this way, the procedure is similar to a nerve block, but it lasts much longer.

RFA has a great history of success. Over 70% of patients who’ve had the procedure experience significant pain relief that lasts, often for about 6 months to one year, or longer. Aside from relieving neck and back pain, an RFA procedure is a useful treatment for:

• Cancer pain
• Chronic pain due to arthritis of the spine or sacroiliac joint pain
• Facial pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia
• Heart rhythm issues
• Knee pain
• Peripheral nerve pain
• Tumors (RFA can be used to kill cells)

What to Expect from an RFA Procedure

RFA is non-invasive, so there’s no surgery involved, and the procedure can be completed in an outpatient setting. Patients are given a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort, and in some situations, sedation is needed.

The doctor will use an electrical current to provide the heat necessary for the procedure. Most patients don’t feel a thing, but some report feeling a slightly warm or thumping sensation. After the procedure, patients may experience some soreness and swelling at the site, which should fade away within a few days.

While nerves won’t stop sending pain signals right away, most patients can expect to feel significant pain relief starting two weeks following the procedure.

RFA Is an Effective Treatment for Neck Pain and More

Wondering whether RFA can help you experience relief from chronic, severe neck pain? The medical team at Impact Medical Group of Sarasota is here to help! Our doctors have performed countless treatments to help patients experience long-lasting, measurable relief from chronic pain. Call us today at (941) 222-1157 to schedule your free consultation and enjoy a better quality of life with less pain.

Is Manipulation Under Anesthesia Considered Surgery?

If traditional pain relief methods are not working for your chronic pain, manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) may be a treatment option for you. This minimally invasive surgical procedure aims to relieve pain and stiffness in the joint area through a series of movements. Impact Medical Group of St. Petersburg explains more about this process and how it can produce much-needed relief.

Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) is designed to relieve pain and break up excessive scar tissue. This pain can be caused by muscle spasms, internal scarring from previous injuries or surgeries, joint misalignment, or inflammation. MUA can be a valuable asset in restoring your range of motion. Before the procedure, the patient will complete a series of examinations, like lab work and imaging tests. This process ensures that the target area has been correctly identified and that the patient can still benefit from the treatment.

What can patients expect during the procedure? MUA is most commonly performed under general anesthesia but other options, like local or spinal anesthetics may be used. The entire process generally takes about twenty minutes. Because this is a multidisciplinary treatment, it will be performed by at least two collaborating specialists in an outpatient surgical setting. Practitioners like orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, and more that participate must have a certification in MUA. During the procedure, the team will move your stiff joint(s) into a full range of motion by stretching surrounding muscles and releasing the joint capsule. Low-intensity, repetitive stretches will help to break up internal scar tissue while high-velocity thrusts can break barriers to movement.

In most cases, recovery happens at home. Though patients will feel exhausted and sore, they will also experience an immediate difference in their range of motion. Rehabilitation is often prescribed and should begin as soon as possible. A specialized physical therapy program will typically begin within a week to 10 days to maintain progress.

It’s important to note that MUA is not for everyone. Those with diabetes, heart conditions, or advanced age should speak with a health professional about their best course of treatment. If you are interested in learning more, call Impact Medical Group of St. Petersburg at (727) 722-8103 or send a message to speak with our team.

Is Manipulation Under Anesthesia Painful?

If you are worried that you will never find relief from chronic pain, it might be time to try manipulation under anesthesia or MUA. This innovative technique can offer life-changing results for patients that are suffering from pain and mobility issues.

At Impact Medical Sun City Center, we use this noninvasive procedure to manage several acute and chronic conditions including tension headaches and fibromyalgia, to pain in the neck, back and knees.

We discuss how MUA works and if it is a painful procedure to undergo. Ready? Let’s dive in!

MUA in Action

While you might not be familiar with MUA, it has been around for 60 years. This treatment works to relieve pain by breaking up adhesions and scar tissue that are limiting your movement and causing problems.

Most of the time, the areas causing the issues are found around your nerve roots, muscles, and joints.

To perform MUA, our team will start by administering mild medication to sedate you. Then we use a variety of therapeutic methods to break up any restrictive tissue. These treatments include:

• Passive stretching
• Manipulations
• Specialized movements for your muscles and joints

Because you are relaxed by the sedative during MUA, your medical provider can more easily manipulate your joints and stretch your muscles.

When to Consider MUA

Some of the most common areas of focus with MUA include the shoulders and knees. However, our team might recommend this therapy for other conditions that haven’t responded to other treatments.

MUA can help chronic and acute issues such as:

• Muscle spasms
• Strains and sprains
• Pinched nerves
• Neck or back pain
• Disc conditions
• Failed back surgery

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, the technique can be used for almost any chronic musculoskeletal pain, especially if you are suffering from a restricted range of motion.

MUA can also offer pain relief from chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and migraines.

What You Can Expect During an MUA Procedure

Before having manipulation under anesthesia performed, you must undergo a full exam by a physician to ensure that you are a viable candidate for treatment.

During your MUA appointment, our anesthesiologist will administer a mild sedative. Then, our specially trained chiropractor team will work to mobilize and manipulate your restricted areas.

Your joints will be articulated and put through their full range of motion and the limbs will be stretched. Low-intensity, repetitive stretching can help break up scar tissue, but in some cases, high impulse velocity thrusts may be performed to break barriers in movement.

As scar tissue is broken down, any joint restriction is reduced and muscle fibers are stretched, resulting in an increase in a patient’s range of motion.

MUA treatments typically take 15-30 minutes, and we inject anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce any tenderness you might have upon waking.

MUA can be repeated up to four times if necessary for maximum benefits.

Based on your unique condition and response to MUA, we might recommend a series of treatments to provide optimal results. Though you can typically expect to see dramatic results fairly quickly from MUA alone, we might also include this technique in combination with a rehabilitation or physical therapy program. 

Is MUA Painful?

In most cases, you can expect to experience some temporary muscle soreness as if you had a vigorous workout.

This is because, during MUA, the body undergoes a strenuous exercise session, even though the exercise has been performed by a medical professional.

Sun City Center MUA Treatment

If you are suffering from chronic pain, manipulation under anesthesia may help enhance your range of motion and allow you to live pain-free. Call our compassionate team at Impact Medical Sun City Center for an MUA consultation today at (813) 938-5195!

What Does a Men’s Health Exam Typically Include?

We get it. Staying on top of annual physicals can feel like a pain. Men are especially notorious for putting off annual physicals that can shed important insights into overall health. Simple medical exams can detect serious illnesses early on and help ensure a long and healthy life.

In addition to heart problems, men are more likely to develop certain cancers later in life that could be treated before they get out of hand.

So, what does a men’s health exam typically include? Learn more from our team at Impact Medical Zephyrhills.

Health Exams for Men

When you schedule a men’s wellness exam or health screening, it might include the following:

#1. Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm. When medical providers test for blood pressure, they often use an inflatable arm cuff monitor.

These arm cuffs measure:

• Systolic pressure: the pressure of your contracting heart to pump blood
• Diastolic pressure: the pressure between beats as your heart relaxes

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can lead to a host of problems including heart attack and stroke. Therefore, we recommend having your blood pressure tested at least once a year.

#2. Heart Rate, Respiration Rate, Temperature & Body Mass Index

The next tests are just as important for women as they are for men. These key annual wellness exams can help detect the onset of heart problems.

Here is a quick overview of these tests:

• Heart rate: a medical provider uses a stethoscope to determine your heartbeat. Between 60-100 is considered normal.
• Respiration rate: Typically, 12-16 breaths a minute is normal, whereas 20+ breaths might indicate heart or lung issues.
• Temperature: A thermometer is used to measure your temperature. 98.6 is normal but can be slightly higher or lower.
• Body Mass Index (BMI): Taking your height, weight, and build into consideration, your health provider will determine if you are not at a healthy weight with the BMI scale. BMI is not 100% accurate as a person with more muscle mass might have a higher BMI.

#3. Blood Glucose Testing

Men 40 and older who are obese or overweight should have their blood sugar levels tested regularly. This is due to the increased risk of heart disease that is associated with poor diet and obesity.

Abnormal blood sugar can indicate a higher risk for type 2 diabetes as this test shows that your body may not be breaking down and utilizing sugar as it should.

#4. Cholesterol Screening

Starting at around 20 years old, we recommend that men have their cholesterol levels examined every 5 years. There are two kinds of cholesterol:

• HDL (high-density lipoproteins)
• LDL (low-density lipoproteins)

HDL is considered the “good” kind while LDL is the “bad” kind of cholesterol.

Cholesterol is examined via a blood test. Healthy cholesterol measures under 200 mg/dl. Certain factors like smoking, diabetes, and a 30+ body mass index mean that a person should have their cholesterol tested more often than the recommended 5 years.

Also, if a patient has a family history of high cholesterol, they should be tested more often.

#5. Testicular Cancer Screening

During your annual health exam, be sure to have a testicular cancer screening. Although self-exams can be extremely helpful in catching cancer, it is also very important to be examined by a medical professional.

Men of any age can develop testicular cancer, although half of all cases are men between the ages of 20 and 34.

Most doctors will also recommend a monthly self-exam. When you are in a warm shower, feel your testicles for lumps. Typically, these lumps will be painless, but significant swelling in one testicle may also indicate the onset of testicular cancer.

#6. Prostate Cancer Screening

The only way to know for sure if you have prostate cancer is through a biopsy. However, two tests can help providers determine if a person is at high risk of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer screenings should begin around 50, though men with a family history of prostate cancer should start screening around 40.

Two main tests that are considered risk assessment tests for prostate cancer include:

• PSA Test: Checks for antigen levels in the blood.
• Manual test: In this exam, a provider will insert a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for irregularities.

#7. Colon Cancer Screening

Colorectal cancer screenings should begin between the ages of 40 and 50. A colonoscopy is painless and only takes around 15-20 minutes and can oftentimes catch colon cancer in an early treatable stage.

#8. Skin Cancer Screening

Men are more than twice as likely to develop melanoma as women by the age of 65. We recommend an annual examination by a dermatologist to screen for skin cancer.

#9. STD Screening & Preventative Care

If you are a sexually active male, getting tested for STDs is one of the most important health screenings that you can get.

Don’t Forgo Your Annual Physical Exam

Prevention is the key to aging healthily. All it takes to catch the onset of a serious illness or disease is an annual health screening and wellness exam. Make sure to make an appointment at Impact Medical Zephyrhills for your annual health exam today.

Call us at (813) 706-5156 today!